As a result of COVID-19, many businesses have had to adapt. While some companies have experienced unexpected success, others have had to lay off or furlough more than half of their staff.
We live in a different job market today than we’ve ever experienced before. It can be difficult to find a full-time job due to the global pandemic and resulting economic recession. The good news is that temporary work and freelancing, through the gig economy, have given displaced employees the opportunity to make money while having flexible hours as we head into what is bound to be one of the most unpredictable holiday seasons yet.
Over the past two months demand for workers in the retail, warehouse, and food-service/delivery has increased as businesses reopen their doors and navigate the new normal. The good news, companies are hiring!
6 Industries Now Hiring Seasonal Workers
The end of the year is fast approaching, which means there is bound to be a surge of seasonal job opportunities waiting for you. Seasonal gigs are not limited to retail gigs, but rather a variety of positions across various industries looking to keep up with demand.
If you are looking for a seasonal gig, you are not alone. 66% of Americans ages 16 to 34 intend to search for temporary work this holiday season. Here’s where to look.
1. Retail
Retail is an obvious choice for holiday jobs, rightfully so. From Black Friday until New Year’s Eve, in-store and online retailers scramble to keep up with demand during their busiest time of the year. According to The National Retail Federation (NRF), November and December sales account for about 20% of a retailer’s annual sales, making the holiday season a critical time. The NRF expects retailers to hire as many as 590,000 temporary workers during this years’ holiday season.
While retail certainly did take a hit at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the industry is starting to recover, with new health restrictions and safety procedures implemented, as we roll into the holiday season.
Large retail chains and local boutiques alike are leveraging temporary workers to fill a variety of open positions such as customer service representatives, sales representatives, cashiers, stockers, and more.
2. Delivery
Online orders skyrocket during the holidays. Hello, Cyber Monday! As a result, delivery drivers are in high demand.
LinkedIn pulled together this list of companies hiring right now. Amazon and the UPS top the list, hiring more than 100,000 people each. FedEx a close third 70,000 roles, including seasonal. This showcases the abundant demand for delivery drivers.
What can you expect to earn from a gig like this? According to the United States Department of Labor, the median pay for a truck driver with a valid Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) is $21.76 per hour; delivery truck drivers make $15.39 per hour. With the growing popularity of delivery services, there are considerable opportunities in this field. Hourly pay is going up as demand outpaces the qualified truck drivers looking for work.
3. Warehouse
In the warehousing industry, change is constant. COVID-19 has driven consumers online and brought e-commerce to the forefront due to store closures and safety concerns. Warehousing plays an integral role in meeting holiday shopping demand, and as a consumer activity, spikes, warehouses, and distribution centers become busier.
Warehouse team members are responsible for a range of duties including loading and unloading packages, sorting, shipping, and working on a forklift in fast-paced warehouse environments. These flexible, part-time positions may have odd hours but are readily available during the holiday season. Companies are urgently hiring for these immediate openings now.
4. Restaurants
For the past several years, the restaurant industry has been known to bring more customers through their doors around the holidays as holiday parties and tourism bolster business. As a result, this industry historically provides an abundance of seasonal job opportunities.
This year will look different with proper social distancing enforced and QR codes in lieu of traditional menus. However, restaurants are reopening and also expanding carryout, curbside pickup, and delivery capabilities. As a result, they will turn to temporary workers to fill in during peak times to support bringing customers back through the doors.
The holiday season leaves the restaurant industry in need of cooks, bartenders, food servers, food delivery drivers, and hostesses.
5. Hospitality
While some people have forgone air travel, they are still interested in holiday vacations and are open to exploring their own city, state, or other destinations accessible by car. Staycations are here to stay and boost the hospitality industry.
During the holiday season, an area that typically booms is ski resorts. Ski towns and resorts hope to welcome back tourists and local visitors with the proper precautions in place, of course. While we are still unsure what the winter season will hold this year, there is no doubt that new jobs will be created to safely deal with guests as the hospitality and tourism industry bounces back.
As travel picks back up and transforms, people will flock to resorts for the holiday’s leading hotels, restaurants, and ski mountains in need of extra hands.
For example, parking attendants, housekeepers, servers, concierges, maintenance, ski instructors, lift operations crew, resort bus transportation, and more. In addition to hourly compensation, you might get access to great perks and benefits, like a free ski pass or hotel discounts.
Photo Credit- Pixabay.com
6. Residential
Fall is here and winter is around the corner. The days may be shorter, but seasonal residential requests are up. People are looking for help with fall leaf and gutter cleanup, roofing, lawn winterization, snow removal, tree trimming, and holiday lighting installation. On average, professional lighting installers make between $60-$100 per hour.
Residential projects are not limited to yard work. People hire workers for almost every task you can imagine. Other popular projects, such as home repairs, moving, and furniture assembly are in demand year-round. Help your local community tackle these projects while building skills for your resume and earning tips.
Why Try a Temporary, Seasonal Job?
The better question is, why not? Seasonal jobs give you the opportunity to test out a new position, company, or industry on a short-term, temporary basis while making money during the holiday season.
With a temporary job, you have the flexibility to choose jobs that fit your needs, your own hours, and shifts. This particularly comes in handy during the holiday season when family time is plentiful. It gives you a chance to learn new skills, and better yet, convert these skills into cash.
If you are struggling with a long period of unemployment, fresh out of college without a job, or just looking for a boost for holiday spending, temporary, seasonal jobs are a great way to build your resume with job experience.
How to Find Seasonal Jobs in 2020?
Whether you freelance as a side hustle to bring in some additional income around the holidays or you do it full-time as your main source of income, gig economy apps and job search engines are useful for finding your next gig.
a. Ask Locally
If you’re looking for available work opportunities this holiday season, check with local grocery stores, resorts, warehouse and logistics companies, and/or restaurants who may be looking for delivery drivers and additional staff to help them coordinate takeout service or ramp up in-restaurant dining as the world begins reopening post-COVID.
b. Job Search Engines
Job search engines are a great way to find seasonal job posts. When you use the search functionality you can narrow the results. For example, try typing in “seasonal,” “temporary,” “seasonal retail,” “winter,” etc. Include your location in the search to hone in on jobs in your area.
c. Use Gig Economy Marketplaces
Online and mobile marketplaces, like GigSmart, can instantly match freelance labor with local jobs, allowing workers to find immediate jobs ranging from food delivery, construction, retail work, or residential home projects. In summary, apps help connect businesses and workers fast.
The easiest way to find gigs is to set up a free profile. From there you can review available gigs in your area and start applying right away. You could be hired in a matter of minutes and start your first gig on the same day!
Turn Your Holiday Gig Into A Permanent Job
While the primary reason for adding staff this time of year may be to meet increased demand, plenty of employers also use the opportunity to find, test, and retain great talent. Seasonal jobs are a great way to get a foot in the door and often have the potential to turn into permanent, full-time employment.
For example, UPS says that over the last three years, 35% of their seasonal package handler workers were later hired in a permanent position when the holidays were over.
i. Arrive Early
Make a great first impression and arrive promptly. Arriving early shows respect for the hiring manager’s time. Always plan to be early to have a buffer in case you get lost or are stuck in traffic. It’s better to arrive early to have ample time to receive instructions, ask questions, and acquire supplies necessary before your scheduled start time.
Have a Great Attitude
Maintain a positive attitude when working. Be motivated to complete the job at hand (big or small). Be sure to actively listen and ask questions. As an independent contractor, you know things don’t always go as planned. It’s important to be flexible and remain positive throughout your gig.
ii. Go the Extra Mile
Do your best work. Take extra care and double-check your work to make sure everything is complete and correct. If the hiring manager is impressed by your work the greater the chance they will leave you a great review and will increase your chances exponentially to be hired again. Staying until the gig is complete and going the extra mile makes a huge difference.
iii. Be Professional
Remember this is a job. Treat your gig like you’re a full-time employee and remain professional throughout your gig. Be respectful of the requester’s time by arriving early and staying until the gig is complete. Over-communicate about breaks, and expectations. Dress in appropriate attire for your gig and if you have questions about what to wear, message the requester prior to the gig date. Use the respective language and choice of words. Pay attention to your body language.
iv. Earn Five-Star Reviews
If you are interested in a full-time gig to work to earn a living, you must ensure you receive great ratings and reviews to increase your job opportunities.
Earn a 5-star review by arriving early, having a great attitude, exceeding expectations, and maintaining professionalism. Future hiring managers can see reviews on gig economy apps and it will impact their decision to hire you or not. The better reviews from previous gigs you have, the more likely you are to get hired.
v. Ask for a Full-Time Opportunity
This might seem obvious, but this is a critical conversation that cannot be overlooked. You must communicate to your manager or supervisor your desire to join the company full-time. Ask what steps you can take to transition from a seasonal, temporary gig to full-time work. Speak up, sell yourself, inquire about openings, and ask what you need to do to get hired.
To Recap
While this holiday season might look a little different this year, as you can see, there are numerous seasonal gigs available and companies are actively hiring.
To recap, here are five quick tips to help you land a seasonal gig in 2020.
- Try a seasonal job.
- Focus on specific industries: retail, delivery, warehouse, restaurants, resorts, and residential projects.
- Use gig economy apps to find local jobs instantly.
- Arrive early, be professional and go the extra mile while working gigs.
- Ask about converting your seasonal gig into permanent, full-time employment – if interested.
Seasonal jobs are flexible, making it easy to earn an extra paycheck. So, if you want to bring in some extra cash this season, gain additional work experience, or test out a gig before making it permanent, a seasonal job is a great place to start.
Additional Reading:
- Winter Jobs We Wish We Could Try Atleast Once
- 7 Reasons to Consider Temping and How to Get Started
- How to Build a Career while Working a Seasonal or Temporary Job
- Are Seasonal Employees Eligible for Workers Compensation?
The post How to Land a Gig Before the Holiday Season? appeared first on CareerMetis.com.
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